Self-watering pots are convenient for many reasons but what are their advantages and disadvantages? You can get self-watering pots in pretty much any size, form, and color but one question comes up again and again. So how do self-watering Pots work? Self-watering pots and planters have a water reservoir in the bottom part that supplies the soil of your plant with the necessary water through capillary action. This is the same action that allows a sponge to absorb water.
The layout and design of the self-watering pot may vary from pot to pot but the basic principle is the same. This allows you to water less frequently, as well as checking the soil of your pots to make sure that they are adequately moisturized. There are different types of self-watering pots available, but the basic principle is the same; water is poured into a reservoir under the plant, which is provided to the plants through wicking action, or capillary action.
More on this below. It makes keeping your plants adequately watered so much easier and takes the guessing work out of gardening. There are multiple options available when purchasing these types of pots or planters, and the type that you choose really does boil down to your personal preference, as well as the size that is needed.
Self-watering planters are especially useful for vegetables or any plant that is needing to be constantly watered. In some cases, you will probably find that these types of plants appear to have higher yield amounts, and look fuller when using a self-watering system.
However, there are some plants that do not thrive with an excess of moisture and should be avoided when using a self-watering planter. In my opinion, the best self-watering planters are high drainage and aerating ones. This one from Amazon is quite good and not all that expensive either. Traditionally when it comes to watering plants, we would water the leaves and the soil; this would ensure that water is absorbed from the roots, and minimally through the leaves.
By closely watering the soil of a plant, the water would be absorbed by the roots of the plant, providing necessary nutrients. With a self-watering pot, use what is referred to as a wicking system, or capillary action, in order to provide the necessary moisture from a reservoir; this way you will not have to keep track of the moisture level of the soil in order for the plant to live and grow.
There are four main parts of a self-watering pot that you should be aware of: the growing bed, potting soil, water reservoir, and the wicking system. All of these components work with each other in order to ensure that your plant is getting the necessary moisture and nutrients that it needs. As the plant roots absorb water, the soil wicks up more; which maintains a constant level of moisture in the soil.
This is the same action that allows a sponge to absorb water, or a paintbrush to absorb paint. To get scientific for a minute, this is caused by the intermolecular attraction in liquids in conjuncture with the attracting forces between a liquid and a solid with narrow tubes. Now imagine that the adhesive force of the liquid and solid is greater than the cohesive force within the liquid, the liquid will be propelled within these spaces. Basically, the planters have water in the bottom that constantly feeds the plant through the roots and allows the soil to stay constantly moist.
There are other parts that are included in your self-watering pot or planter, and these all work together to make sure that your planter is performing its job adequately, and supplying water to your plants constantly. In every self-watering planter, there will be two main chambers; a top and a bottom. The top chamber will be where the soil and plant s are located, while the bottom chamber is where you will find the reservoir.
Reservoirs will vary in size, but are usually in proportion to the overall size of your planter; so if you need a larger planter, the reservoir will generally be larger as well. For instance, in a large container it is not unusual to have a 5-gallon container; while in smaller planters, you may only have a 1-gallon container. When looking to buy your planter, you should try to determine how big of a reservoir you want, to avoid filling it as often.
In addition to the reservoir and chamber for the plant, there will also be an opening of some kind, commonly referred to as a fill tube. This is used to pour water directly into the reservoir, making it so that you will not have to remove the top chamber in order to keep water in the reserve. The opening for this tube is generally found on the top, around one of the corners. Some self-watering pots and planters will have a removable cap at the opening of this tube to ensure that debris is kept out of the reservoir.
In addition to the easy access fill tube, a lot of planters will also have an indicator that lets you know when you should fill the reservoir; in some cases, this will be a view on the side, or an object similar to a bobber when fishing.
All self-watering pots should have a mechanism that prevents overflow, allowing water to drain out of the reservoir is filled too full. This will ensure that the plants are not sitting in water, which as we know can lead to issues down the road. Self-watering containers vary by brand, style, size, features, appearance and more, just like most planting containers.
After 7 years, it still looks like new and works flawlessly. For veggies, I go with something more utilitarian, rather than decorative, and large enough to grow a decent crop.
My favorites are below some are also shown in the video. The large Rim planter can go 3 weeks between refills even in the extreme summer heat. There was no expectation that it would be a positive review and we received no compensation for writing it. All opinions expressed here are those of the author based on personal experience using the product. Please note that the Amazon and Gardener's Supply Company links and only those links above are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase products through these links, GPReview will make a small commission at no extra cost to you that helps to support this website and our gardening product reviews.
Thank you! Monica is the founder and Editor of the Gardening Products Review. She's had a lifelong love affair with gardening and a fascination with gardening tools. She's been known to disassemble tools just to see how they work and has a tendency to break tools while testing them in the garden. Menu Skip to content. In the video below, I walk you through: the features of self-watering containers, how they work, different types including DIY options , and how to plant and grow things in them.
Or just keep reading for all the details, including my top recommendations. What is a self-watering container or planter? Parts and Common Features Not all self-watering planters will have all of the items listed below, but they typically include a: water reservoir planting container wicking mechanism fill tube overflow hole or spout water level indicator drainage hole and plug The top section of a self-watering planter is usually for your potting mix and plants, while the bottom contains the water reservoir.
How do self-watering planters work? This can be a strip of capillary mat, an absorbent tube-shaped plug or a thick string. The wick basically sucks water out of the reservoir and delivers it to the potting mix. The planting container is designed with a section that sits inside the water reservoir, placing potting mix directly in contact with the water. Water from the wet mix in that section is pulled up into the rest of the planting container through capillary action.
This is the most common design. How are they helpful? While an inconsistent watering schedule may seem like par for the course, it can actually stress a plant out: "Plants really crave consistency: They want to have consistent moisture levels. They want to have consistent light. They want to have consistency in temperature," says Bullene. Self-watering planters can be especially convenient for hanging plants or plants that live in hard-to-reach areas since they'll cut down on the number of times you need to pull out the step stool or shimmy your way over to them.
There are two main types of self-watering planters: One has a removable water saucer at the bottom of the pot, and the other has a tube that runs alongside of it. You can also find self-watering inserts that turn normal pots into a self-watering one. These all function in a similar way; the difference is largely aesthetic. All you need to do to keep them running smoothly is refill their water chamber when it runs low.
The number of times you'll need to do so will depend on the type of plant, sunlight levels, and time of year, but it'll usually be every three weeks or so. In between refills, Bullene says you can continue to water the top of your plants lightly every so often to raise humidity levels around their leaves.
Misting your plant's leaves , then wiping them down with a microfiber towel periodically can also ensure that they don't get clogged with dust, which can mess with their ability to photosynthesize. Other than that, your self-watering planter should handle everything else in the water department.
Certain plants with shallow roots think succulents like snake plants and cactuses will not benefit from being placed in a self-watering planter since their roots don't extend far enough into soil to take advantage of capillary action. However, these plants also tend to be pretty forgiving and require less water anyway. Self-watering containers tend to cost about the same as a standard planter, but if you're looking to save money, you can DIY your own pretty easily.
Simply fill a large bowl with water and pop the bowl on an elevated surface next to your plant. Then, place one end of a string in the water so it's fully submerged you might want to use a paper clip for this , and place the other end in your plant's soil, about 1 to 2 inches down. Make sure that the string is on a downward slope so that water can travel from your bowl down to your plant whenever it gets thirsty.
Self-watering planters are a convenient option for plant parents who struggle to keep up a consistent watering schedule or travel often. They're easy to use, take the guesswork out of watering, and are suitable for most plant species. Want to learn how feng shui can help you create a high-vibe home and set powerful intentions to manifest your dreams?
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